March 27, 2005

So far, the Easter break has been fairly relaxed and laid back. Friday I went to work for a few hours then came home and watched TV with my brother D. We watched Oprah doing a show about 30 y.o. women around the world. It was interesting to see the different cultures ad the way the women face up to their daily lives, particularly in Iraq.

Yesterday I decided to go into town and see the Lord of the Rings Exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum, in the Sydney CBD.. It was a very wet day. Last Easter, wet as well I decided to visit the Archibald Prize viewings at the Art Gallery of NSW. I should have learned from that experience. On wet days everyone wants to do things indoors, even if it means going out to do them.

Sheesh, I paid $19.00 (Aust) and I have to say I was disappointed. I caught the monorail across town from Pitt Street and that was an experience in itself. It was crfowded and lurched from Pitt Street across town to Darfling Harbour where it gave up the ghost at Harbourside, two stops away from where I was going. It came to a stop and there was an announcement "The monorail will terminate at the next stop due to technical difficulties". Literal transalation of that announcement, which was made both at the station and over the monorail intercom would lead one to believe that if one was game enough, one could still travel one more stop before the monorail terminates. But no, an official roused everyone out of the carriages and then they had an announcement "This monorail terminates here". Our monorail isn't Sydney's most effective form of transportation but the toursits like it, even if the $4,00 fare is a bit of a ripoff. So we all alit and waited for the next train to take us the last two stops.

A short walk to the Powerhouse and the line was snaking out the doors and around the side of the building. It was a light drizzle but not uncomfortable. The line snaked in to the exhibiton which was absolutely crowded and difficult to enjoy because of the crowds. Brickbats to the Powerhouse which seems to be keen to cram as many people into these exhibitions as they can fit not caring about visitor comfort, easy visibility of exits etc.

The exhibition itself was interesting enough with various items of costume, models, armour etc from the trilogy, including Boromir's funeral boat. What was rather bizarre was the large number of monitors displaying the Extended DVD on how the series was made. I'd have thunk that most visiting would be LOTR tragics who, if they have DVD players would certainly have the Extended DVD and therrefore perhaps this space could have been put to better exhibition use,. That and more attention to the crowds, maybe even restricting entrance once a certain level was reached, might have made for a more pleasurable experience. Still, if it wasn't raining there probably wouldn't have been as many people there.

Today, there was no rain. It was a fine 27F/80C, early autumn day in Sydney. Three friends and I went to the Harbord Diggers for a lingering lunch and a couple of dollars on the pokes. We didn't break the bank but we didn't lose much either. You tend not to when you play the 1c machines.

Tomorrow, Easter Monday, another holiday, remains uncertain. It'll be about 21C so I'll probably spend the day in the great outdoors.

March 25, 2005

My brother D is staying with me in the cabin for a few days pre and post Easter. His wife and daughter have come up to Sydney from country NSW for the Royal Easter Show and will probably compete in Girls Barrell Racing events at the shows rodeo etc. I've mentioned before that D. was a top class bull-rider before being severely gored in a catastrophic accident in September 1991. He's learnt to live with his injuries and his disabilities and visits two or three times a year to catch up with friends etc. He can still carry out a conversation and interact socially with people he knew before the acco, but his short term memory is shot, and he uses a stick to counter his blindness in one eye, and 30^ vision in the othe. He watches TV and reads large print books so he keeps himself involved in what's going on around him. He'll be staying with friends until Sunday and then will return here until the end of the week when my other brother A, will take him back home.

March 21, 2005

A week between posts is way too long but not mcuh is really happening at the moment. The hectic franticness oflast Monday graudally wore away to a sense of exasperated resignation that yes we are working with a new system, yes there are some bugs, yes it will eventually improve things and yes, there's no point griping about it.

Consequently by the end of the week my 13 hour days had reduced themselves to 8 (with one off for lunch) sothings are as normal as they're going to be for a while. Thats on the work front.

On the home front my brother arrives tomorrow and will bunk in with me for the next 9 days or so, minus the weekend. It'll be good to see him but I'm resigned to lots of interrupted sleep, primarily due to his medical condition which I've gone into on numerous accounts previously. A one room cabin doesn't allow much space for privacy, but during the day he'll be doing his own thing, pottering and visiting local friends etc and he's an early enough sleeper so I'm not sure how that will affect the blgging continuity. Nevertheless I'm looking forward to seeing him.

The weekend past was restful, which was great. I volunteered some genie time, briefly visited work just to check something out (force of habit0 but apart from that I just rested, window shopped and spent a fair bit of time cleaning up the cabin and then read blogs etc. .

March 15, 2005

Haven't had much chance to write since mid last week so sorry about that.

Saturday choir was part of a Commitment Ceremony for a couple who've been together for 9 years and decided it was time to take the next step. The City of Sydney has a Relationship Bill that recognises the rights of both mixed sex and single sex couples to declare their union a relationship. Whilst this Relationship Bill has no legal standing in NSW it is recognised as a step in the right direction and is apparently supposed to provide useful as proof of shared assets etc in times of bereavement etc, thereby making it easier for the partner to claim a stake in the deceased estate etc.

Legalistics (or non) and semantics aside it was a great little ceremony held at the MCC Church at Petersham. About 45 minutes, exchanging of rings, signing of declarations, welcoming into the family of the MCC Church etc. It was a really nice service and we were fortunate and honoured to be a part of it and to participate, by song and music. And we didn't sound too bad either.

Sunday was mainly pottering around and the last couple of days at work I've been flat out like a lizard drinkiing again. We've got a new call centre call recording system at work and it was the first two days. Yesterday was hectic and somewhat stressful so today seemed like a breeze, even though it was busy.

Still, as I said to the troops, we work with the cards we're dealt and sometimes we have to work a little harder than others.

I think the rest of the week will be busy but not frantic. Still I'd rather be busy than just sitting around.

My youngest brother is coming up to stay for a few days next week so the weekend will be mainly cleaning the cabin, trying to make additional space and getting rid of the clutter. It'll be an interesting period of time,

Apart from that, I'm absolutely still loving my iPod Shuffle. I generally use it for podcasts to listen on the busride to and from work (about 45 minutes each way). Its neat, easy to use, clean and compact. Thank you Apple.

The only other thing I'm doing is watching Angels in Amercia in doses of about half an hour at a time. Its extremely moving TV but its just too much to watch for any longer period of time.

More tomorrow night, if I get home early enough, but now, its time for bed. Goodnight Inkernet, goodnight JonBoy.

March 09, 2005

Last Saturday and Sunday I treated myself to a weekend mini-break. Two nights in a moderately (cough) priced city hotel. I checked in after 3pm and pottered around for a while before wandering over to check out the Mardi Gras crowds lining the street from about 4pm in the afternoon. Didn't stay to watch the parade (knowing that I had to work on Sunday I didn't want a real late night). Had my own private Mardi Gras with some new friends which was a lot of fun and then a relatively early night (no that's not a night with the rellies).

Sunday worked from 8am until 4pm and then I pretty well rested or slept until 6am checkout Monday morning.

It was nice to get away for a while, even if it wasn't too far away.

The week so far has been busy, but not hectic.

Choir tomorrow, and we're singing at a commitment ceremony at MCC on Saturday morning, so that'll be enjoyable. How the rest of the weekend pans out is yet to be determined.

Friday night I'll write about my new Shuffle which I'm thoroughly enjoying. Time now to download a few podcasts before some reading. Namaste

Last Saturday and Sunday I treated myself to a weekend mini-break. Two nights in a moderately (cough) priced city hotel. I checked in after 3pm and pottered around for a while before wandering over to check out the Mardi Gras crowds lining the street from about 4pm in the afternoon. Didn't stay to watch the parade (knowing that I had to work on Sunday I didn't want a real late night). Had my own private Mardi Gras with some new friends which was a lot of fun and then a relatively early night (no that's not a night with the rellies).

Sunday worked from 8am until 4pm and then I pretty well rested or slept until 6am checkout Monday morning.

It was nice to get away for a while, even if it wasn't too far away.

The week so far has been busy, but not hectic.

Choir tomorrow, and we're singing at a commitment ceremony at MCC on Saturday morning, so that'll be enjoyable. How the rest of the weekend pans out is yet to be determined.

Friday night I'll write about my new Shuffle which I'm thoroughly enjoying. Time now to download a few podcasts before some reading. Namaste

March 04, 2005

Tomorrow night, at approvimately 7.45pm, a sizeable proportion of the streets of central Sydney will be filled with themed and decorated and floats, and people buzzing with excitement and anticipation, getting ready to set out on a 2.5 kilometer journey to Moore Park as they participate in, or watch Sydney's Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. Participants will number between 3,500 to 5,000 people, and depending on the weather there could be between 200 - 200,000 people behind the steel street barricades, kept in check, and kept safe and amused by a small army of volunteer parade marshalls. The Parade itself has its own large scale organisational structure with involvement and participation from Police, Ambulance, Roads and TrafficAuthority and the Sydney County Council. After the parade is over, and the crowds disperse at Moore Park, and along the route, to either continue with the party, or make their way home, a sizeable battalion of street cleaners will make the thoroughfares clean and safe for vehicular traffic.

The weather for the last couple of days has been humid, with occasional fierce thunderstorms, mostly at night. More of the same is forecast for tomorrow, which will probably keep the crowds down, but those who attend are in for a fun, if possibly wet night.

Moi, I'm in two minds. I won't be marching this year, but I may go up and watch some of the preparations and people gathering in the afternoon. I'm working Sunday, so the last thing I need is to be partied out with little or no sleep. It doesn't do an ageing body any good. Still I wish everyone who participates, a very safe and enjoyable evening.